Printing press feeder



Oct. 26, 1937. c, L, BARTHOLDT 2,097,013

PRINTING PRESS FEEDER Filed Nov. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g I :r "R EMJ m INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 26, 1937. c. L. BARTHOLDT PRINTING PRESS FEEDER Filed Nov. 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W40 IN VENTOR.

C/areflce L. Barf/ra/df Z4 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 26, 1937. c. BARTHOLDT 2,097,013

PRINTING PRESS FEEDER Filed Nov. 20, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTQ G/anence L Bay ATTORNEY;

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses or similar machines that are provided with feeders that successively introduce articles to be printed, and the primary object of the invention is the 5 provision of mechanism for maintaining a supply of a predetermined number of articles in place for the printing press feeder, to the end that the press may be continuously operated for the purpose of avoiding loss of productive time due to shut-clowns of durations long enough to replenish the supply of articles as it is diminished by the printing press feeder.

One of the important objects of the instant invention is to provide a printing press feeder which will automatically maintain a predetermined number of articles being printed in a bed available to the feeder arm of the press, which articles are transferred to said bed from a magazine remote therefrom.

A yet further object of the present invention is the provision of a feeder for printing presses, which has a bed for the articles being printed, a magazine for said articles, and a series of uniquely arranged endless tapes that transfer the articles from said magazine to the bed in the form of a continuous train thereof, the number of articles in the bed being appreciably less than the number that may be introduced to the magazine, all to the end that envelopes or like relatively bulky 30 articles, might be fed into the press one by one without the necessity of stopping the press from time to time as the stack of articles on the feed table thereof becomes depleted.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a 35 feeder for printing presses, which is constructed to present two units arranged in side-by-side relation so that the feeder arm of the press may simultaneously receive articles to be printed from both of said units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a printing press feeder of the aforementioned character, which has adjustable elements movable with respect to each other for the purpose of accommodating articles to be printed of various lengths, which elements may be quickly and easily regulated without disassembling the feeder.

A large number of minor objects of this inven- 50 tion will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical section through the printing press feeder, showing the same mounted in operative position upon the feeder table of a printing press.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, side elevation of the upper portion of the feeder.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the feeder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation, showing the lower portion of the other side of the feeder from that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, sectional View through a portion of the feeder, taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed, sectional view through one of the rollers and its supporting shaft, taken on line VIVI of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the gear reduction box and clutch mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional view through a part of the feeder arm, showing the electrical contact plunger.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, cross sectional view through the feed roller of the press.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the feed roller, illustrating the relation of one of the tapes therewith.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line flX[ of 'Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view through the clutch portion of the gear reduction assembly, and,

Fig. 13 is a cross section through the gear reduction assembly taken on line 2flII--XIII of Fig. 12.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is particularly useful in connection with so-called vertical presses. Such presses are equipped with feeding mechanism and tables, and since these parts are conventional with other models of printing presses, the feeder contemplated might be associated with any printing press without a great amount of alteration.

For purpose of clearness, therefore, this feeder will be described by reference to the vertical press, which has as a component part thereof, a feeder platform l2, that is a part of the press frame and which carries a feeder table l4that platform and may be elevated either manually or as the press is operated, so that the articles being fed are available to suction cups l6 carried by a separator frame l8, mounted upon a pair of opposed feeder arms 20, which are oscillated by a feeder arm shaft 22 upon which they are secured. Feeder table I4 is secured against movement when the printing press feeder contemplated by this invention is employed. A jack support 24 is interposed between feeder tablel4 and a bed plate 26 that carries motor 28 and associated parts, forming some of the elements of the feeder mechanism.

The speed of motor 28 is lowered through the employment of an ordinary gear reduction assembly 35 that is in connection with and driven by wheel 32 connected to motor 28 by belt 35. A clutch forms a part of the gear reduction assembly 30 and shaft 36 is the driven shaft from which the driving force for the hereinafter mentioned parts is taken. A clutch operating shaft 38 is in connection with rod '59, and a resilient stop 42 is periodically in engagement with arm 44 that joins shaft 36 to rod 45. The parts just mentioned are mounted upon bed plate 25 that rests upon feeder platform 12, and which is held in rigid condition by jack support 25.

Wheel 32 is mounted on shaft 35 and an intermediate shaft 55 assists shafts 33 and 36 in supporting speed reduction gears of suitable size and number. One of these gears Si is loosely mounted on shaft 36 beside clutch member 39 that is pinned to shaft 36 as seen in Fig. 12. Gear 31 carries two diametrically opposite, laterally extended pins M, one of which is engaged by a clutch pin 43 carried by clutch member 39. A spring 55 urges pin 43 outwardly into the path of travel of pins ll and a notch formed in pin 43 receives ear 49 on arm 5i. One wall of arm 5! forming the notch is inclined so that as member 39 is turned and ear ii? enters the notch, pin %3 is withdrawn to a point where it no longer engages one of pins 4!.

The outer periphery of member 39 is concentric to the axis of rotation of the member and another arm 53 is urged thereagainst by spring 55. A finger 5 is provided with a shoulder 59 that engages a shoulder 5! on link 53 which connects arms 5| and 53. When the cam face of member 59 moves against arm 53, both arms are lowered against the tension of spring 55 and the interengagement of shoulders 59 and 6! looks down the two arms 5! and 53. Ear 49 is in place to move pin 34 from engagement with pins 4|. Finger 5? is mounted on shaft 38 and an upward pull on rod 45 will rotate shaft 38, move finger 5'5 and disengages the two shoulders to allow arms 5! and 53 to be pulled up so that ear 49 will not longer hold pin 43 out of engagement with one of pins 4|.

The upper portion of the press feeder comprises a base 48, which has journailed therein a number of horizontally disposed and substantially parallel shafts 50, 52, 5Q, 5B, 56, 52 and 64. While some of these said shafts serve as tie rods, others extend through the entire feeder for the purpose of simultaneously actuating both units of the feeder and individually operating one of the units from the control side of the feeder. Shafts 52, 55 and 58, therefore, essentially pass completely through the feeder from side to side thereof. The ends of these aforesaid shafts are journalled in the vertical, opposed walls 66, forming a part of and extending upwardly from base 38. These walls 56 are projected high enough to journal shafts 58 and it, Which are rotated by gears thereon.

The train of gears on one side of the feeder is shown in Fig. 2, and comprises a gear 72 on shaft 58. This particular gear imparts movement to shaft 58 when moved in one direction, and travels freely about the axis thereof when rotated in the opposite direction. The conventional type of over-riding clutch, comprising a number of rollers F 3, disposed in notches having inclined bottoms formed in a member secured to shaft 58, is utilized to insure this action. A similar over-riding clutch between a later described gear and shaft 53 at the other end thereof has a like connection therewith.

Meshing gears 75 and '58 are secured to the ends of shafts 50 and 52 respectively and gear '15 is in mesh with gear #2 on shaft 58. An idler gear 88 is carried on a stub shaft mounted on end E25, and is in mesh with gears 2'2 and 82; the latter being mounted upon the end of shaft 58. Gear 82 is in turn meshed with another gear 85 on shaft 70.

A ratchet wheel 86 is secured to the end of shaft adjacent gear 76 and a crank 88, freely mounted upon shaft 55, carries pawl 95 so that upon movement of crank 88, ratchet 86 will rotate shaft 66 in one direction. Another ratchet 92 is mounted upon shaft 56, and a crank 95, freely carried by shaft 55, engages ratchet wheel 92 through the medium of pawl 95 so that said shaft and ratchet wheel 55 and 92 respectively might be moved in one direction by manual manipulation of crank 95.

The other side of the feeder likewise presents a train of gears that are shown in Fig. The end of shaft 58, which is disposed at the side of the feeder opposite from that shown in Fig. 2, has a gear 58 mounted thereon, that is in mesh With gears E and E52, mounted on the ends of shafts 55 and 65 respectively. An over-riding clutch, formed as described when referring to element Hi, is the means for interconnecting gear 58 and shaft 58. When shaft 58 is moved in one direction, gear 98 will rotate therewith, but when gear 98 is rotated in the opposite direction, shaft 58 will not be. effected. Shaft 62 carries gear 94, that is in mesh with gear I02. An idler 3E6, rotatably mounted on a stub shaft E58, meshes with gear 52 and another gear H0, the latter being on shaft 53. Gear H2, carried by shaft 70, is in mesh with gear lit, and in some instances plates, such as HQ, may be employed to maintain these gears in mesh.

Shafts 52, 5d, 56 and 58 are solid throughout their length and extend from side to side of the feeder, while the remaining shafts aforementioned, i. e., 60, 62, 68 and H1 are split; that is to say, they are made in two lengths arranged in end to end relation and in axial alignment, but are split between the two units of the feeder. These two units are substantially identical in that each has a stationary vertical frame E6 and a relatively movable similar frame H8. Frames H6 are secured to the base, while frames H8 are slidably mounted upon certain of the shafts. Shafts 5G and 64 serve as sliderods and framesupporting members, and the movable frames i it have bearing blocks 120, with set screws M2 for securing the slidable frames l I 3 in a desired position. All of the frames are maintained in vertical, substantially parallel planes and another tie rod i2 3 extends through all of the frames and is adjustably joined to movable frames i 98 by bearings E26 and thumb screws E28.

Tie rod I24 is anchored to the stationary frames H6. Each frame H6 and H8 comprises at least two standards I30 and M2 and an inclined top member I34. The standard I32 of each frame carries a wheel I36 that is freely rotatable about a stub shaft I33, secured to standard 32. A magazine forming member I50 projects upwardly from each frame I I6 and i ii} respectively and the articles to be printed are fed from the gaged by adjusting nut I59 for the purpose of raising and lowering plate Hi2.

Top members Lid are inclined and the said top members of coacting frames Ho and H8 carry a feed roller l52. This feed roller is specially formed of longitudinally grooved, resilient material, and is driven by the hereinafter mentioned tapes. The ends of the roller i52 are reduced as shown in Fig. 10, so that the outer periphery of the roller will be in the same plane as the upper side of the overlying tape. The roller of each unit is carried by a specially formed bearing member I54, which grips one wall of each top member I34 of that unit. A clamping screw is provided in bearing member to retain the roller in place beneath the edges of the articles to be printed, which are here shown to be envelopes E58.

Each unit has a pair of endless tapes on each frame H6 and H8 respectively thereof. Tape directly contacts the face of the respective wheel I36 and passes around appropriate rollers and IE4, carried by stub shafts on frame i it.

Each unit A and B is equipped with tapes of identical nature for advancing the articles to be printed. Unit A has a pair of belts hid, in opposed relation. That is, one of said belts i is carried by stationary frame lie". and the other belt I59 is carried by movable frame us. These two belts Hail are passed over opposed roilers and IE4, that are carried by stub shafts to the respective frames.

Means for maintaining these two beits tee in taut condition is conventional structure and is illustrated herein as having a roller which is mounted upon arm I68. Arm its carries Eaterally extending member HS that receives force from spring Hi2, that has one end affixed to said member H9, while the other end is secured to the respective frame H5 or H8, as the case may be. These endless tapes its engage a part of the peripheries of wheels E33 and pass over rollers H4 and H6, carried by shafts it and respectively, between frames H6 and N8 of unit A. A pair of coacting tapes 5'58 form a part of unit A, and one of these tapes H8 is mounted adjacent each frame H6 and H8 respectively. Rollers E88, I82 and E84, carried in opposed relation by the said two frames, operably support tapes H8 and rollers I85 and E38 on shafts and respectively engage the tapes to drive the cane. Tapes E and H8 face each other along a part of their length so as to hold articles 53 therebetween in lapped relation.

Tapes 518 are maintained taut by take-up means which comprises a roller res, mounted on one end of lever E92, that is urged outwardly by spring i9 2, secured to the other end of lever 82 and opposite to the fulcrum thereof.

Unit B is constructed like unit A, and has a pair of opposed endless tapes 99% very similar to tapes Hi0 of unit A and mounted in the same manner. A number of rollers lBil, carried by frames Hi3 and H8, co-operate with rollers see and 2&2 in holding the two opposed tapes ltd in operative position. Rollers 2529 and 252 are carried by that part of shafts 5t, and '56 respectively which extend across unit B. The relation of tapes it wheels H36, which form a part of unit B, are the same as indicated for unit A. A pair of coacting tapes 2%, positioned in unit B in precisely the same manner with relation to the parts thereof as tapes lid of unit A, are likewise passed over suitable rollers 2% carried by the frame and rollers 298 and 2H: mounted upon shafts til and 32 respectively.

All of the rollers hereinabove mentioned as being mounted upon shafts are fiat-faced metal rollers, and the rollers heretofore mentioned as being mounted upon the frames and carried by the belt tighteners are crowned wooden rollers. The belts 595 and 26 3 of unit B are maintained tight by belt tighteners 2&2 and ti t respectively. These belt tighteners are the same as before mentioned with respect to unit A and need no further explanation.

Shafts 60, 82, 68 and iii are split so that each has a length forming a part of unit A and a length forming a part of unit B. All of the tape-driving rollers mounted upon these shafts are secured thereto in the manner detailed in Figs. 5 and 6. Each shaft is provided with a keyway or longi-. tudinal slot, identical in nature and designated by the numeral 2G6. An enlarged portion at the end of each slot permits turning of screw plug fit when it is moved to and from that enlarged portion. After plug 2E8 has been turned, however, and moved so that it is in the smaller portion of slot 23%, the flattened sides of plug 213 will engage the sides of slot '2; and preclude further turning of plug 2M. 7

Plug H8 is not tight enough to keep its roller from moving longitudinally along the supporting shaft, so when movable frames H8 are adjusted, the various rollers mounted on the drive shafts will move therewith. The means for causing these rollers to move is in the form of yokes 229, which are mounted upon a portion of each movable frame i it respectively. These yokes 220 are U-shaped and, as shown in Fig. 5, the legs thereof pass downwardly at each end of the rollers so that movement of frame H8 in either direction will cause the embraced rollers and their associated tape to move therewith. A ratchet 222 is secured to one end of shaft 153 and a pawl 22% engages the teeth thereof so as to drive both ratchet and shaft in one direction as arm 226 is moved about the axis of shaft 58. This arm is rotatable freely about shaft 58 and held in place by a collar 228, attached to shaft 58 by set screw 239.

The free end of arm 22% is pivotally connected to one end of rod it, the other end of which is joined to drive shaft 3t, previously mentioned.

Means for maintaining the uppermost article 553 against a guide portion or stop 232, forming a part of bed 23 is in the nature of a ram 236, mounted upon shaft 238 that extends clear across the feeder and through both units A and B. There is a ram 23% for each unit and the head thereof rests directly upon the train of lapped articles 158 between the tapes of the units. This ram reciprocates periodically because of its direct connection to feeder arm 2@ of the press. Shaft 238 is joined to continuous shaft 5 3 by links 2% and 242 and upon oscillation of shaft 55%, said links 240 and 2%? will move shaft 238 and the supported rams to and fro toward and from bed 234.

It is notable that rams 236 are adjustable longitudinally along shaft 238. This aforesaid movement is received from feeder arm 23 merely by continuing link 2 52 downwardly past shaft 54 to a point of connection with link 2M, secured to arm 2t through the medium of its hooked end 246 and a pin 2 58. A piece 2155 added to one end of one link 242, forms a continuous rigid link from link 244 to the proximal link 24%.

Separator frame I8 carries an electrical contact plunger 252, so that when an article I 58 has been removed from bed 234, its delivery is assured and its presence insures that the press will continue to run. If, however, an article is not picked up from the two beds 23 when arm 29 reaches the press, plunger 252 will be brought into contact with a plate which forms a part of an electrical circuit, which when made, will stop the press.

Mechanism for tripping the clutch so as to drive shaft 36 extends to proximity with separator frame I8 and other conventional parts carried by arm 20. One end of shaft 52 has secured thereto an L-shaped arm 254, with an adjustable head 256 thereon. This head 255 may be moved toward and from separator frame I8 or any part of the feeder arm assembly, merely by loosening bolt 25%. A finer adjustment in the form of a bolt and lock nut 255 is at the upper end of head 256. Under normal conditions, arms 255 will not be operated so long as the number of articles I58 in bed 23 i is sufiicient to maintain the uppermost one thereof at a certain pick up plane.

Very delicate separator spring fingers 252 extend inwardly over the top of the stack of articles I58 in each bed 235. When the uppermost article I58 is lifted by suction cup I6, these fingers 262 will insure that the next underlying article I58 will not travel therewith.

Operation.

The manner of adjusting the two units of the feeder so that articles of various widths might be accommodated has been made clear during the foregoing specification, as has the way in which rams 236 serve to maintain articles I58 in bed Under normal Working conditions, articles E55 will be fed from the magazine to the bed in the form of an endless train of overlapped units, and so long as the supply of articles in both magazines is maintained by'the operator, the feeder will continue to make available at the bed the necessary number of articles. Because feeder arm 2%) will remove articles from beds 255 and therefore periodically drop to a relatively lower position, arm 255 will be depressed to rotate shaft 52 a slight amount, Upon such rotation, rod 35 will be moved upwardly to turn shaft 38 and thereby disengage shoulders 55 and BI. Ear 59 will be withdrawn from the notch in pin 43 and the pin will move out to be engaged by one of the pins II on gear 3i. Shaft 3'! will complete one revolution before ear 59 moves pin 43 out of engagement with one of pins 5! and shoulders 59 and iii are again in engagement. This relation of parts occurs when shaft 35 has returned 33 to the position shown in Fig. 7, spring 52 will completely stop further movement until the mechanism is again tripped to complete another cycle.

Such complete rotation of drive shaft 35 will turn shaft 58 because of the connection therewith of ratchet 222 and the operating parts 224 and 225. The turning of shaft 58 will impart movement to the trains of gears on each end of the feeder. All rollers on shafts 6!}, 62, 58 and 10 in both units A and B will be turned to advance the tapes associated therewith. Thus articles I58 in both units will be moved toward bed 234 from magazine I48. Obviously, roller M will be in position to secure together shaft 58 and gear 12.

Assume now that the operator desires to advance articles I58 in unit A, without advancing the articles in unit B. Crank 88 is moved so as to drive shaft 65 in one direction, which will operate all of the gears in the train on one end of the feeder shown in Fig. 2, without operating the gears on the other end thereof. Element 14 will not serve to transmit such force as is exerted through crank 88 to shaft 58 because of its position in the larger part of the notch of the overriding clutch. This position is that illustrated in Fig. 2. Manifestly, shaft 58 will not be turned at all and only shafts 62, 68 and 75 will be caused to rotate by virtue of the train of gears previously described.

In the event the operator desires to advance articles I58 in unit B, crank 54 is manipulated so that pawl and ratchet 9S and 92 respectively will serve to impart rotation to shaft 55. This shaft 55 extends continuously through to the other end of the feeder, where gear IE0 is secured thereto. When gear IE5 is rotated, therefore, the lengths of shafts 6E3, 62, 58 and it, which bridge the distance between frames H6 and N8 of unit B, will be turned so as to move tapes I96 and 294 of said unit and therefore advance articles I58 from the magazine to the bed. 7

When gear 98 is employed in the movement of the train of gears just mentioned, the overriding clutch shown in dotted lines of Fig. 4 will permit rotation of gear 98 without effecting shaft 58.

It is conceivable that printing press and feeders of different physical appearances and characteristics than that illustrated and described might be made to embody the broad objects and specific details contemplated by this invention, and it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; and a ram for maintaining the uppermost article in the bed against a portion thereof.

2. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; a ram for maintaining the uppermost article in the bed against a portion thereof; and means for driving the tapes to advance the train of lapped articles when the height of the stack thereof in said bed drops below a predetermined level.

3. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; and a ram, said articles being fed into the said bed from the train by the ram.

4. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; and a feed roller serving with certain of the tapes to support the articles to be printed in said magazine and actuated by said certain tapes to move the articles from the magazine into'the train.

5. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; and a feed roller actuated by certain of the tapes for moving the articles from the magazine into the train, said feed roller being provided with longitudinal grooves for engaging the edge of the lowermost article in the magazine as the tapes are advanced. a

6. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the articles are fed directly to the printing press; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; and a feed roller actuated by certain of the tapes for moving the articles from the magazine into the train, said feed roller being provided with longitudinal grooves for engaging the edge of the lowermost article in the magazine as the tapes are advanced, said feed roller being provided with longitudinal grooves for engaging the edge of the lowermost article and serving as a support for the articles in the magazine.

'7. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported for adjustment toward and from each other above the base; endless tapes on each frame respectively for conveying articles to be printed; and means for moving the tapes, said articles to be printed bridging the space between said frames and engaged between said tapes of both frames.

8. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported for adjustment toward and from each other above the base; rollers on certain of the shafts adjacent the respective frames; endless tapes carried by the rollers for conveying articles to be printed; and means for rotating at least one of said certain shafts to move the tapes, said articles to be printed bridging the space between said frames and engaged between the tapes adjacent both frames.

9. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported above the base; rollers on certain of the shafts adjacent the respective frames; endless tapes carried by the rollers for conveying articles to be printed; and means for rotating at least one of said certain shafts to move the tapes, said articles to be printed bridging the space between said frames when engaged by the tapes adjacent both frames, one of said frames being slidably mounted on some of the horizontal shafts for movement toward and from the other frame for the purpose specified.

10. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising abase; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported above the base; rollers on certain of the shafts adjacent the respective frames; endless tapes carried by the rollers for conveying articles to be printed; and means for rotating at least one of said certain shafts to move the tapes, said articles to be printed bridging the space between said frames when engaged by the tapes adjacent both frames, one of said frames being slidably mounted on some of the horizontal shafts and having yokes thereon positioned to engage the ends of some of the rollers to slide the same along their supporting shafts as the frame is slid along its supporting shafts in either direction. 1

11. A printing press feeder of the character de cribed comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported above the base; rollers on certainof the shafts adjacent the respective frames; a plurality of stub shafts on each frame respectively; a wheel on one of the stub shafts of each frame respectively; rollers on the remaining stub shafts of each frame respectively; endless tapes carried by the rollers and wheel of each frame respectively for conveying articles to be printed; means for rotating at least one of said certain shafts to move the tapes; and a magazine formed by the opposed frames above the wheels mounted thereon, two of said tapes forming the bottom of the magazine and extending outwardly therefrom in a plane substantially tangent to the periphery of the said wheels.

12. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported above the base; rollers on certain of the shafts adjacent the respective frames; a plurality of stub shafts on each frame respectively; a wheel on one of the stub shafts of each frame respectively; rollers on the remaining stub shafts of each frame respectively; endless tapes carried by the rollers and wheel of each frame respectively for conveying articles to be printed; means for rotating at least one of said certain shafts to move the tapes; a magazine formed by the opposed frames and the tapes above said wheels; and a roller bridging the space between the frames at the bottom of said magazine, said roller being rotated by the tapes as they are moved.

13. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; a pair of vertical, opposed frames supported above the base; rollers on certain of the shafts adjawnt the respective frames; a plurality of stub shafts on each frame respectively; a wheel on one of the stub shafts of each frame respectively; rollers on the remaining from the said outlet opening whereby to be stationed at one edge of the article being fed through the opening when the opposite edge is at said opening.

14. A printing press feeder of the character described comprising a base; horizontal shafts journalled for rotation in the base; two fixed, intermediate, vertical frames on the base; a movable frame on each side respectively of the fixed frames whereby to create a pair of side-by-side feeder units; a plurality of opposed rollers carried by the frames of each feeder unit respectively; rollers on certain of the horizontal shafts; tapes carried by the rollers adjacent each frame respectively; motor driven means for rotating one of said certain shafts to move all the tapes of both units; a crank on another of said certain shafts for moving the tapes of but one of said units; and another crank on a third of said certain shafts for moving only the tapes or" the other unit.

15. In a printing press having an oscillating feeder arm, a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the feeder arm individually receives the articles; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; a ram for forcing the uppermost article in the bed against a portion thereof; and means operable by the feeder arm for advancing the ram after each removal of an article from the magazine.

16. In a printing press having an oscillating feeder arm with suction cups thereon for transferring an article to be printed to the press; a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the suction cups receive the articles; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of laped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; a motor for moving the tapes; a clutch and a train of gears operable to connect and disconnect the motor from the tapes; and linkage operable by the feeder arm when at one end of its path of travel to render the clutch operable to connect the motor and tapes when the uppermost article in the bed is below a predetermined level.

17. In a printing press having an oscillating feeder arm with suction cups thereon for transferring an article to be printed to the press; a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the suction cups receive the articles; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of lapped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; a motor for moving the tapes; a clutch and a train of gears operable to connect and disconnect the motor from the tapes; and linkage operable by the feeder arm when at one end of its path of travel to render the clutch operable to connect the motor and tapes when the uppermost article in the bed is below a predetermined level, said clutch having a stop in connection therewith for breaking the connection between the motor and the tapes after the latter have been moved to deliver a predetermined number of articles to the bed.

18. In a printing press having an oscillating feeder arm with suction cups thereon for transferring an article to be printed to the press; a magazine for the articles to be printed; a bed remote from the magazine from which the suction cups receive the articles; tapes extending from the magazine to the bed to maintain a continuous train of laped articles extending from the magazine to the bed; a motor for moving the tapes; a clutch and a train of gears operable to connect and disconnect the motor from the tapes; and linkage operable by the feeder arm when at one end of its path of travel to render the clutch operable to connect the motor and tapes when the uppermost article in the bed is below a predetermined level, said clutch having a stop in connection therewith for breaking the connection between the motor and the tapes after the latter has been moved to deliver a predetermined number of articles to the bed, said stop serving to break the connection before the feeder arm returns to the said one end of its path of travel.

' CLARENCE L. BARTHOLDT. 

